22/01/2014 17:43
Russian lawmakers condemn West's role in Ukraine
Russian lawmakers adopted a resolution Wednesday slamming foreign politicians for what they say is interference in Ukraine’s deepening political crisis as clashes rage between protestors and police, RIA Novosti reported.
The Ukrainian capital, Kiev, has seen increasingly violent scenes in recent days with demonstrators intensifying their anti-government campaign in response to draconian legislation coming into force Wednesday that severely curbs the freedom to protest.
A State Duma declaration proposed by speaker Sergei Naryshkin urging foreign politicians to refrain from involvement in developments inside Ukraine was supported by 388 out of 450 deputies.
“The State Duma urges Western political circles to stop meddling in the internal affairs of sovereign Ukraine in violation of international law and to stop contributing to further escalation of conflict,” the resolution said.
Russian lawmakers also called on opposition members in Ukraine to refrain from violence, halt the standoff and seek constructive dialogue with the authorities.
The opposition in Ukraine accuses authorities of escalating the violence by spurning genuine high-level dialogue and using heavy-handed tactics in attempting to clear demonstrators.